STOP THESE MISCREANTS (OCT 28, 2010)

THE activities of illegal miners, popularly called galamsey operators, are destroying the environment across the length and breadth of the country.
Some years ago, mining, including the activities of galamsey operators, was confined to the traditional mining towns of Tarkwa, Prestea, Akwatia and Obuasi and their immediate environs. But, today, it seems Ghana, which used to be called the Gold Coast, is living up to its original name because gold can be mined in any part of the country.
Perhaps the problem of galamsey operations is on the ascendancy because of the collapse of state-owned mines in Tarkwa, Prestea and Akwatia, a development which has provided the illegal miners a field day to ply their dangerous trade.
There was a period when the government tried to wean off galamsey operators from their dangerous trade by initiating alternative livelihood ventures in the mining communities but the initiative lacked the incentives to motivate the illegal miners to abandon their business.
That initiative attracted the support of big-time mining operators who provided seed money and inputs to motivate the galamsey operators to venture into cash crop production.
The outlook in towns such as Prestea, Akwatia, Tarkwa and Obuasi gives the impression that those communities will be better off without the mining operations.
However, the mining companies are quick to point accusing fingers at galamsey operators for degrading the environment because it has become difficult for mining regulators to instil sanity into the activities of the illegal miners.
The question to ask, therefore, is: What has gone wrong with mining in Ghana?
In the first place, the laws of our country give advantage to the mining companies that repatriate their earnings and leave only a paltry percentage for the good people of the country.
That is why courageous citizens in the mining communities have adopted the illegal means to earn a living from their heritage.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, however, cautions the galamsey operators to desist from their activities because they undermine every effort at sustainable development.
The reckless abandon with which these illegal operators, with their foreign collaborators, are destroying the environment now can no longer be tolerated.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks that unless these illegal operators, who have extended their activities to all major water bodies in the country, are immediately stopped in their tracks, they will disturb the country’s development plan.
The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has mounted a personal crusade to stop galamsey operations, especially in the Birim River, without success.
Now the Ankobra and Pra rivers have all been encroached upon by galamsey operators with heavy equipment to pollute the source of drinking water for many communities.
In all these negative activities, some foreigners, especially Chinese nationals, have been mentioned as accomplices and this does not augur well for the cordial relations between Ghana and China.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the Chinese Embassy in Ghana to impress upon its nationals who have come to Ghana to transact business to do so within the confines of our laws. The activities of these foreign nationals are very provocative and they can never be good ambassadors of their countries.
The patience of Ghanaians, especially law-abiding citizens, is being stretched by these miscreants who are bent on destroying our heritage. But they must not be allowed to have their way.
The axe must fall heavily on all galamsey operators, including the foreign nationals, as well as Ghanaian public officials who condone such dangerous endeavours.